A rhetorical feud broke out between the Democrat governor of California and the Republican governor of Florida over migrants that were sent to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.
Gov. Gavin Newsom excoriated Gov. Ron DeSantis after he sent about 50 migrants on planes to the summer vacation island in order to highlight the crisis at the border.
“Those migrants are used as pawns to humiliate and dehumanize,” Newsom said at a media briefing Friday.
“What Ron DeSantis is doing is a disgrace,” he added. “It’s almost monstrous, and I say that not lightly, I say that quite thoughtfully. He’s got kids. I have kids. You saw those young girls with backpacks, no older than his children, my children, being used as political pawns, and now he’s using it to fundraise. To raise money. It’s disgraceful. He’s a disgrace.”
When asked about Newsom’s comments, DeSantis fired right back.
“All I can say is I think his hair gel is interfering with his brain function,” DeSantis joked.
Newsom responded by issuing a challenge to the Florida governor.
Hey @GovRonDeSantis, clearly you’re struggling, distracted, and busy playing politics with people’s lives. Since you have only one overriding need — attention –let’s take this up & debate,” he tweeted.
“I’ll bring my hair gel. You bring your hairspray. Name the time before Election Day,” he added.
It wasn’t the first time DeSantis mocked California. As the state was suffering from a debilitating heatwave that threatened to shut down the power grid, the Florida governor fired off a quip.
“I hear a lot of people chirping about Florida from California,” DeSantis said. “They’re so worried about Florida. They can’t even keep the power on in California, are you kidding me?”
The migrants sent to Martha’s Vineyard were given food and housing for two nights before the governor arranged for a shelter at a military base away from the island.
Here’s more about the feud of the governors:
Gavin Newsom challenges Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to debate www.youtube.com